A majority of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries has criticised the European Commission for failing to propose a reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The European Commission presented, on 21 February, two documents on the CFP, an action plan aiming to protect and restore marine ecosystems and a communication on the energy transition (see EUROPE 13126/1).
“We have diametrically opposed views on the CFP reform”, said Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spanish), speaking on behalf of his group. According to him, the Commission is “disconnected from the reality” of the sector, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. In his opinion, the CFP needs to be adapted, particularly with regard to quotas and maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Mr Mato defended economic and social sustainability, whereas the Commission insists on sustainability and environmental objectives.
Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) said the Commission’s decision not to reform the CFP was political, not legal. “I don’t see why it shouldn’t be changed”. The landing obligation is not working and the rules on transparency (repair of fishing quotas) need to be strengthened, Ms Aguilera said. There is no support for small-scale fishing, she regretted, calling for a better definition of this notion. The renewal of the fleet, for the safety of workers, is not addressed. In addition, aquaculture is losing ground in Europe, she said.
Izaskun Bilbao (Renew Europe, Spanish) called for a new CFP adapted to the 21st century with accompanying measures. “The social and economic sustainability of the CFP has been forgotten”, she said. Ms Bilbao criticised the Commission for wanting to eliminate industrial fishing in the EU while imports from third countries continue to increase.
For Ladislav Ilčić (ECR, Croatian), human needs should come first. The number one priority should be to feed people, he said. Who can afford to buy electric ships? - he asked.
“What planet is DG MARE living on?”, exclaimed Peter van Dalen (EPP, Dutch), who spoke of the disappearance of fishermen and the increase in imports of fisheries products, particularly from Asia. He also said that the rules on compulsory landing were not working.
Caroline Roose (Greens/EFA, French) welcomed the Commission’s approach of “focusing on the implementation of the CFP rather than launching a risky reform that would take years”.
“I don’t know if we need to reform the CFP, but there will be no future for fisheries if we don’t speed up the regeneration of the ocean”, summarised Catherine Chabaud (Renew Europe, French). There is also a need to speed up the transition of vessels and gear and she is not sure whether the CFP is well suited to do this.
Charlina Vitcheva, Director General in DG MARE, stressed that fishermen live off natural resources, which are “limited”. “If we want generational renewal, we have to look at sustainability, innovation (modern ships) and safety on board ships”, she said.
François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, French) criticised the Commission’s intention to ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas between 2024 and 2030, “a measure that would condemn the activity of 7,000 European vessels and almost a third of French fishing”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)